Class: Religion and Beliefs
Grades: Upper School
Teacher: Ms. Jain
Students in the Religions and Beliefs history elective visited Brandeis University to tour their dedicated religious and spiritual spaces on campus. The Center of Spiritual Life at Brandeis offers a safe space for students to explore their spirituality regardless of their particular faith. The Associate Director of the Center of Spiritual Life guided the class through the various spaces and explained how they are utilized by the community, offering real world examples of topics the class has been looking into.
Following the trip, students reflected on what dedicated spaces for prayer and spirituality offer the surrounding community. More specifically, students brainstormed on what they would design for people of different beliefs at Beaver. Some initial thoughts and ideas on design included:
- “Make spaces central to campus”
- “Need a prayer and gathering space”
- “Create space for collaboration”
- “They should be integrated into curriculum”
- “How do you make a safe space without calling out or overpowering?”
Some students even pointed out the similarities between these spaces and Affinity Groups, drawing attention to what is provided already at Beaver and where there is room to grow.
Below you can check out some of the sketches of religious spaces produced by students after their visit to the Center of Spiritual Life at Brandeis.
More about this course: Ever wonder why, despite ideals of religious freedom and acceptance, different religious groups and religions of the world unite or lead into conflict? In this course, students will explore a wide range of religious and spiritual ideologies including their origins, beliefs/practices, and adaptations over time. Investigations into how belief systems shape contemporary politics, government, and conflict will also be explored.